Hurricanes at Panthers
THE STORY: The Florida Panthers have been unable to generate any consistency at home this season, a big reason why they are clinging to a one-point lead over Washington atop the Southeast Division. Florida has a chance to remedy the struggles at BankAtlantic Center when it hosts the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday in the opener of a four-game homestand. Florida has won all three meetings against Carolina, which still harbors playoff hopes and is sitting seven points out of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.
TV: 5 p.m. ET, FSCR, FSFL
ABOUT THE HURRICANES (26-27-15): Carolina ended a streak of seven consecutive one-goal games with a 4-2 victory at Tampa Bay on Saturday night. Jeff Skinner had a pair of goals for the Hurricanes, who saw center Jiri Tlusty exit the contest with an upper-body injury. The schedule certainly is not working in favor of Carolina, which has games this week against the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues – the respective leaders in the Eastern and Western conferences.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (31-23-13): Florida has won just once in five games (1-3-1) in March and a lack of offense is a big reason why. The Panthers have produced only six goals during that stretch and four of them came in one game. Florida's power-play has been non-existent, converting once in 16 chances this month. Leading scorer Kris Versteeg has been sidelined for six straight games with a lower-body injury. He participated in an optional skate Saturday wearing a non-contact jersey.
OVERTIME:
1. Florida G Jose Theodore is 3-0-0 against Carolina this season, allowing five goals.
2. Hurricanes G Cam Ward won the 199th game of his career Saturday at Tampa Bay.
3. The latest Florida has ever held a division lead in a season was March 10, 2000.